After stepping down from the presidency, Cory Aquino remained active in helping nurture the fragile Philippine democracy that was restored during her term. Largely through the Benigno S. Aquino, Jr. Foundation (BSAF), she supported programs that promoted people empowerment, peace and human rights. In the final years of her life, she devoted much time and energy to harnessing private sector support for the microfinance sector. Her vision was to strengthen the infrastructure that would transform micro-enterprise development into a potent vehicle for raising “people power” to the next level, slowly creating a broad middle class that would fortify the foundations of Philippine democracy.